The Associate of Equipment Manufactures (AEM), a North American organisation, continues to pursue the formal process that could allow off-road machinery to use R1234yf instead of increasingly restricted R134a. AEM, aimed at advancing the success of global industrial equipment manufacturers, has been working on substitution reports for a range of machinery – including those used … Continue reading R1234yf for mobile machinery
The slow uptake of R1234yf on new light vehicles in Australia, largely caused by manufacturers exploiting a lack of regulation around their role in the HFC phase-down, has hit the headlines in mainstream media this month with articles in The Guardian newspaper and on the WhichCar website under which major automotive publications including Wheels Magazine … Continue reading Australia’s slow YF uptake hits the headlines
The latest Cold Hard Facts refrigerant report commissioned by Australia’s Department of the Environment and Energy has decried sales of new vehicles using R1234yf as “statistically irrelevant in 2018”. “Auto makers appear content to continue to supply models with older generations of refrigerants to any markets that permit HFCs, while making HFO charged models available … Continue reading Slow R1234yf uptake called out in Cold Hard Facts
A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) is highlights both direct and indirect emissions caused by automotive air-conditioning, recommending governments take a holistic approach to addressing these issues that includes the adoption of low-GWP refrigerants, improved system efficiency and increased vehicle electrification. Few reports of this kind cover both direct and indirect emissions, usually … Continue reading Auto-AC has big energy role to play in reducing emissions
The red R134a sticker on a refrigerant line fitting in the image above is found under the bonnet of a cutting-edge electric vehicle that is selling well in Australia. The Hyundai Kona. Inset is a J639 label from another hi-tech EV, the Jaguar I-Pace, sold in Australia carrying 850 grams of R134a. The Kona uses … Continue reading Car-makers keep using high-GWP refrigerant
SNAP approval sought for broader use of YF The United States Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has proposed that R1234yf be considered for adoption in off-road mobile machinery under the US Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP). Representatives from AEM met with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in May to notify the regulatory body that … Continue reading R1234yf for off-highway vehicles
Greater efficiency from a smaller refrigerant charge Successful trials of a secondary loop car air-conditioning system could open the door to a range of alternative refrigerants with smaller charge sizes. Potential benefits to the consumer include improved fuel efficiency and lower servicing costs. As a global average, energy consumption by car air-conditioning is estimated at … Continue reading Secondary loop auto-AC trial results
Chemours Corpus Christi plant comes online The world’s biggest R1234yf factory is now operational at Ingleside in Texas, tripling YF production capacity for Chemours, which co-developed the HFO refrigerant with Honeywell. Resulting from a $US300 million ($A425m) upgrade of the Chemours Corpus Christi plant that began in 2016, this YF production boost will help the … Continue reading R1234yf production capacity triples
The end of Australian car production by Ford, Holden and Toyota has not resulted in greater uptake of R1234yf refrigerant, according to the latest Cold Hard Facts report commissioned by the Department of the Environment and Energy. Cold Hard Facts (CHF) is a detailed examination of the Australian refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) industry, with the … Continue reading Slow YF uptake increase since end of Aussie car-making
Those who attended the 2015 VASA Wire & Gas convention will remember Barbara H Minor’s fascinating presentation about R1234yf, which she was pivotal in the development of. She has now been honoured with The Science of Chemical Industry (SCI) America Perkin Medal for her contribution to the research and development of refrigerants that address ozone … Continue reading R1234yf inventor Barbara H Minor honoured with prestigious Science of Chemical Industry award
